Geeks To Go is a helpful hub, where thousands of volunteer geeks quickly serve friendly answers and support. Check out the forums and get free advice from the experts. Register now to gain access to all of our features, it's FREE and only takes one minute. Once registered and logged in, you will be able to create topics, post replies to existing threads, give reputation to your fellow members, get your own private messenger, post status updates, manage your profile and so much more.

Out of drive space

tbomkamp

Posted 13 May 2005 - 08:37 AM

tbomkamp

Member

Member

110 posts

My parents old computer is out of drive space but they don't want to invest the money in a new computer for the next few years. Its a 500MHz eMachines from 5 or 6 years ago. I installed 128Mb more RAM - now up to 160Mb - but they only have about 400Mb of disk space left out of 4.3Gb. They have a new digital camera full of pictures they would like to put on the computer to manipulate/e-mail/store, so it's time for a bigger/second hard drive. My computer upgrading experience is limited to new OS and more RAM so I am completely ignorant on HD terminology and compatability.

Ojoshiro

Posted 13 May 2005 - 09:34 AM

Ojoshiro

Member

Member

146 posts

eMachines?
It's just a normal desktop machine? Do you run DOS or
something else? ( DOS may not be able to address huge
disks without tweaking )
If it is you can use basically every harddisk on the market.
( Well, every IDE, for SCSI's you need a controller
somewhere in your machine )
Yes, you could probably do it externally via USB. But that
would mean buying more than just the bare essentials, the
disk. ( if it's USB 1, it's going to be slow )
If you open the computer, that big flat cable leading to your
harddisk, does it have an extra connector on it?
If you have, you can connect your extra (new) drive without
difficulties.

I don't know if "faster" harddisks will pose a problem.
Maybe stick with the 5400RPM ones like you already have.
Though that may be getting tough nowadays.

I'm a bit careful in advising you, you present your computer
like it was put together in the Permian by T-rex hardware
enterprises inc. ( really old ) So just to make sure, ask
in the store before you fork over your money, and ask
what to do if it doesn't work (money back)

This is the current hardware from the eMachines site. It is running XP Pro with no problems except the low disk space. So the refurbished 20Gb from my previous post should be ok? I am unsure of the cable. I'm at work right now, I'll check on that later. If I can't add a second, are there any difficulties in replacing with a larger drive and reinstalling windows?

azreal

Posted 13 May 2005 - 10:41 AM

tbomkamp

Posted 13 May 2005 - 01:32 PM

tbomkamp

Member

Topic Starter

Member

110 posts

At lunch I stopped over and opened it up. It doesn't have an extra connector on the drive cable, so I guess I need to replace the drive entirely. Will there be instructions for installing XP on the new drive, or is some searching in my future? Is it a difficult task? There isn't anything especially important on their computer, so it won't hurt to pull the existing HD out and make it an external removable drive.

audioboy

Posted 13 May 2005 - 03:05 PM

audioboy

Member

Member

857 posts

you can pick up an IDE cable with two connectors very cheaply.
also check that you have a free power connector to power up the new drive. if not, you can get a splitter connector for that as well, which turns 1 power plug into 2.
when you are ready to actually install the drive, you will need to check the jumpers. the current drive will need to be set as master (should be already). connect that to one of the plugs on the ribbon cable. set the new drive to slave, connect it to the other plug on the ribbon cable, plug in power, and your set.

all this is much easier that reinstalling windows, or spending money to try and ghost the current drive onto a new one.